To create a new lifestyle for yourself, it’s important to not only focus on the physical aspects of exercise but also the mental. Having a healthy, positive life is all about balance. Those who are physically fit but not mentally strong can barely call themselves healthy. A great and easy way to exercise and strengthen your mind is through reading.

The benefits of reading are vast. Along with helping you develop your vocabulary and general knowledge of anything in which you may be interested, you’ll find your ability to focus will become greater as well as the speed at which you come to a conclusion when faced with a complex problem. Some studies show that regular reading may even increase your IQ! Just like with physical exercise, mental exercise will help you become faster and stronger in a different and just as important way.

Mental exercise is not only important to your general level of fitness, but it is also mutually beneficial to physical exercise. Physical exercise requires discipline and so does taking the time to read. The better you become at taking the time to read, the better you will become at taking the time to exercise and vice versa.

Reading is an active mental experience, unlike watching television, which is passive. When you’re engaged in something passive, it allows your mind to wander as well as allows you to do other things, like eat snacks, while passively tuning in to what’s happening around you. Its much more difficult to eat pizza while reading a book you really love because your mind is actively engaged in the story and doesn’t need to occupy itself with food to make up for the part of your brain that’s bored while you watch TV.

It may be a tough change from TV at first but once you learn to exercise your imagination again, you’ll realize why you always hear people saying how the book was better than the movie. And soon you’ll be able to say that because you’ve read it, too.